| The purpose of this study was to determine appropriate standard time and method which could closely estimate the required number of personnel or pharmacists to the current number of personnel or pharmacist of out-patient dispensing service in a general/regional hospital. Standard times used for the tested determination methods were from of Khornkaen hospital, Mahasarakham hospital, Sisaket hospital and Roi-et hospital. Four determination methods were tested in this study. The first method used overall standard time of dispensing per prescription. The second method used standard time of each subactivity of dispensing per item. The first and the second methods showed the number of total personnel (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) required for out-patient dispensing service of a hospital. The third method used only overall standard time of dispensing per prescription which a pharmacist involved. The fourth method used only standard time of each subactivity of dispensing per item which a pharmacist involved. The third and the fourth methods showed only the number of pharmacists required for out-patient dispensing service of a hospital. The numbers of personnel or pharmacists derived from the 4 determination methods were compared to current numbers of personnel or pharmacists of 4 hospitals (2 regional hospitals and 2 general hospitals) to determine discrepancy.
The study found that standard times with 10%, 15%, and 20% adjustment for allowance time showed comparative results. Therefore, only 15% adjusted standard time was used for the study. For the first regional hospital, using the standard time of Khornkaen hospital, the required numbers of overall personnel or pharmacists calculated by the first, second, third, and fourth methods were 27.10, 25.60, 8.72, and 8.32 persons; respectively, less than the current personnel. For the second regional hospital, required numbers of overall personnel or pharmacists calculated by the first, second, third, and fourth methods were 27.45, 21.12, 3.89, and 3.32 คนpersons; respectively, less than the current personnel.
When using the standard time of Mahasarakham hospital, the required numbers of overall personnel or pharmacists for the first general hospital calculated by the first, second, third, and fourth methods were 15.49, 14.12, 5.82, and 5.82 persons; respectively, less than the current personnel. For the second general hospital, the required numbers of overall personnel or pharmacists calculated by the first, second, third, and fourth methods were 11.28, 11.17, 5.28, and 5.28 persons; respectively, less than the current personnel.
When using the standard time of Sisaket hospital, the required numbers of overall personnel or pharmacists for the first general hospital calculated by the first, second, third, and fourth methods were 13.38 persons more than, 1.21 persons more than, 5.43 persons less than, and 1.83 persons less than; respectively, the current personnel. For the second general hospital, the required numbers of overall personnel or pharmacists calculated by the first, second, third, and fourth methods were 9.47 persons less than, 4.94 persons more than, 2.60 persons more than, 4.94 persons less than and 1.06 persons more than; respectively, the current personnel or pharmacists.
When using the standard time of Roi-et hospital, the required numbers of overall personnel for the first general hospital and the second general hospital calculated by the first method were 15.55 persons and 11.31 persons; respectively, less than the current personnel
In conclusion, Sisaket hospital’s standard time was the most appropriate standard time for determination of required numbers of the personnel or pharmacists. The first and the second methods were parallel appropriate methods for determination of required number of personnel. However, the fourth method was the appropriate method for determination of the required number of pharmacists. Therefore, we may use the 3 methods and Sisaket’s standard time for determining required numbers of personnel or pharmacists for out-patient dispensing service of a general/regional hospital.
|